A total of 76 works – 61 paintings and 15 sculptures – are being exhibited at Palazzo de La Salle, the recently restored premises of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce at 219, Republic Street, Valletta.
The exhibition represents art as an educational tool, as therapy, as hobby and a means to develop personality and character- E.V. Borg
The works have been entered in the biannual Silver Palette competition and exhibition organised by the society, and have been submitted mainly by art students and amateurs, but some professionals are also taking part.
The exhibition varies in quality and content but represents a new art concept – art as an educational tool, as therapy, as hobby and a means to develop personality and character.
The Silver Palette trophy was won by Ċensu Fenech for his dynamic form in space. His work in abstract shapes bursts with powerful energy and force. Fenech was also unanimously awarded first prize in the sculpture section.
Blue Grotto Beauty by Godfrey Xuereb, a prosaic piece chosen perhaps for its technical qualities rather than invention, and a terracotta piece, Adam and Eve by Anthony Lucian Cauchi, were awarded an honourable mention.
Jesmond Dalmas won the painting section with Pepp, a realistic portrait in soft pastels of a striking female beauty. Our Heritage by David Camilleri Kleine, in impasto and ceramics, and Untitled, an abstract by Jennings Falzon, were awarded an honourable mention.
Random Moments by Carmel Bonello is forcefully expressive. Bonello’s contribution to Maltese contemporary art is highly significant and his involvement in such collectives demonstrates his desire to participate and encourage budding artists.
Controlled by Time, a surreal work by Deborah Cachia, Underwater Fantasy by Grace Borg and Let me Sway and Spin by Paul Cassar are perhaps the only works on show steeped in fantasy and imagination.
The first is a felt expression imbued with mood and melancholy. It is a structured composition with a dark palette to emphasise the sadness of the subject. Underwater Fantasy is in a lighter mood but visually impressive, especially the way the artist merged the copper montage on to the painted ground. All three works deserve praise.
Among the abstract works that by Mary Clare Albanozzo is impressive while Kaleidoscope by Lina Treble and Crossing a Red Line by George Cassar, whose other piece, Clay Pots on African Rug, is warm and quite effective. The rug itself has powerful exotic colours and patterned movement. Jeremy Ellul’s Receptacle in crank clay has abstract beauty in its hemispherical textured form that simulates copper, and Four is a Crowd has the feel of a large coin or medal in metal.
Imitating nature is not enough to translate experience into expression. It is interpretation that changes prose into poetry. Imitation results in a derivative art, in importing ideas, in mere copying. Art is creative: either by improving on tradition or by an explorative search for the unknown. Art is the abilty to create and recreate.
The exhibition remains open till March 30.